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Calypso
Pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, begins selling a carbonated drink of his own devising as a patent medicine. He will go on to found The Pemberton Medicine Company, which will find global success after a name change to The Coca-Cola Company. This universally-available fizzy drink will inspire several songs including Rum And Coca Cola by The Andrews Sisters and and the somewhat more salacious Coca Cola Douche by The Fugs. It's also worth noting that the hit single I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by The New Seekers, was based on a 1971 Coca Cola advertising jingle - I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke.
Henry Rodemeyer of Manhattan, New York City, USA, is granted Patent No. US699978A for his invention of an improved 'sounder' for stringed musical instruments.Rafael de Leon is born in Aroquita, Trinidad, British Trinidad and Tobago. He will find success as calyso singer Roaring Lion.
Louise Bennett, poet, singer, songwriter and activist, is born in Kingston, Jamaica, Caribbean. Bennett will become a much-loved household name, nicknamed Miss Lou, in Jamaica. Apart from her many achievements in radio and on the stage, she will teach Harry Belafonte how to sing The Banana Boat Song, and will serve as an inspiration for Bob Marley.Cyril Ewart Lionel Grant is born in Guyana, South America. He will find acclaim and success as singer and actor Cy Grant, becoming the first black person to be featured regularly on television in the United Kingdom, mostly due to his frequent appearances on the BBC current affairs show Tonight. He will also become a political activist, working to increase recognition of the achievements and rights of black people. In 1974, he will set up the Drum Arts Centre in London, to provide a springboard and a national centre for black artistic talent.
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Fitzgerald Cornelius Henry is born in Arouca, Trinidad. He will find fame as calypso singer and songwriter The Mighty Terror.
Blind Blake records Hookworm Blues, Poker Woman Blues, Doing A Stretch, Fightin' the Jug and Slippery Rag in Richmond, Indiana, USA, for Paramount Records.
The Hokum Boys record I Was Afraid Of That Part 2 in Richmond, Indiana, USA, for Paramount Records. At this session, the group includes Blind Blake on guitar.
Hubert Raphael Charles, aka Roaring Lion, records his own composition, the calypso Marry An Ugly Woman for Perfect Records in Port Of Spain, Trinidad, Caribbean. The song will inspire the 1963 No1 Billboard hit single If You Wanna Be Happy by Jimmy Soul.
Joe Coggins and Zeda, with Charlie Smith And His Demerara Lucky Strike Orcheatra, record Will Dispute and Me And My Neighbour Don't Agree, for Decca Records in Port Of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies, Caribbean.
The Caresser (aka Lord Caresser), with John 'Buddy' Williams And His Rhythm Orchestra, records Clear The Way When The Bamboo Play, for Decca Records in Port Of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies, Caribbean.
Clarence Profit's Trio and The Calypso Recorders are playing at The Village Vanguard, Greenwich Village, New York City, USA.Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Harry Belafonte, Stan Getz, Lennie Tristano and Oran 'Hot Lips' Page play as part of the All-American Jazz Festival on the opening night of Birdland jazz club, on Broadway and 52nd Street, New York City, USA.
Cyril Blake's Calypso Serenaders record Iere, for Parlophone Records in Abbey Road Studios, London, UK.
Cyril Blake's Calypso Serenaders record Bulldog Don't Bite Me, Zambo, Calypso Man and Give Me One Dollar for for Parlophone Records in Abbey Road Studios, London, UK.
The Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) sails on the SS San Mateo from Trinidad, Caribbean, headed for England. Later in the month, they will perform at The South Bank Exhibition, London, UK. This is considered to have been the first exposure of white Britons to steel band music in a live context. By the end of the year, steel band music will have become hugely popular in the UK.
Dossie Terry with The Howard Biggs Orchestra records Lost My Head and When I Hit The Number, for RCA Victor Records in New York City, USA.
Blind Blake And His Royal Victoria Hotel Calypsos release a new 2-EP 45rpm set, A Second Album Of Bahamian Songs, on Art Records in the USA.
Harry Belafonte is appearing live at Ciro's, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
Harry Belafonte, Janet Brace and The Jim Stutz Trio are playing at The Black Orchid, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Sālote Tupou III, better known as The Queen Of Tonga, attends the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK, Europe. The occasion is commemorated in song by bandleader Edmundo Ros who records and releases his composition The Queen Of Tonga on Decca Records.
The stage revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac - A Musical Harlequinade, starring Harry Belafonte, opens at The Imperial Theatre on Broadway, New York City, USA, where it will run for 229 performances.The stage show John Murray Anderson's Almanac - A Musical Harlequinade, starring Harry Belafonte, with songs by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, opens at The Imperial Theatre on Broadway, New York City, USA, where it will run for 229 performances.
During a run of 229 performances, the stage revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac - A Musical Harlequinade, starring Harry Belafonte, is presented at The Imperial Theatre on Broadway, New York City, USA.
The Robins, later to find international fame as The Coasters, play the ninth night of two weeks at The Trocadero, Hollywood, California, USA. On the same day, The Robins appear on The Rhythm And Blues Show on KTTV hosted by Jerry Lawrence with Harry Belafonte, and The Oscar McLollie Orchestra.
Harry Belafonte completes the recording of his second LP, Belafonte, for RCA Victor at RCA Victor's Manhattan Center and 24th Street Studios, New York City, USA. It will become the first No1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, topping the chart for six weeks.Harry Belafonte stars in the Bell Telephone Hour's American Festival show on NBC-tv in the USA.
Harry Belafonte plays during a week of shows at Araneta Coliseum, The Philippines, Asia.
Rory Storm And The Hurricanes, including drummer Ringo Starr, are fulfilling a three month residency at the Rock And Calypso Ballroom, Butlins, Skegness, England, UK, Europe.Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson, Cyril Fletcher, Cy Grant, Bernard Spear, Rosemary Brett Davies and Marie Cooper, Reg Thompson, The Terry Sisters and the BBC Revue Orchestra perform live on the BBC Light Programme Radio show Midday Music Hall in London, England, UK, Europe.
Cy Grant performs a news-based calypso on the BBC-tv topical magazine show Tonight in London, England, UK, Europe.During a run of shows at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA, Harry Belafonte records a live LP, Belafonte At The Greek Theatre. Backstage, Belafonte is presented with three gold discs for albums which have each achieved over one million sales.
Harry Belafonte opens for a month of shows at The Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Folk trio The Phoenix Singers are playing at The Shadows, Georgetown, Washington DC, USA.
Calypso songwriter and performer Lord Burgess plays the second of eight nights of shows at The Cafe Au Go Go, Greenwich Village, New York City, USA.Calypso songwriter and performer Lord Burgess comes to the end of a week of shows at The Cafe Au Go Go, Greenwich Village, New York City, USA.Harry Belafonte opens for twelve days at The Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos, California, USA.
Harry Belafonte opens at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA, for four weeks.
A front page story in music trade magazine Billboard in the USA reports that "the radio industry is rallying to the support of the equal employment opportunity campaign 'Things Are Changing'."
The Gene Ammons Quartet record Calypso Blues, Nature Boy and other tracks for Prestige Records at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA.
Judy Collins, Richie Havens, Tracy Chapman, The Mighty Sparrow and others play at a rally and concert for Nelson Mandela in Yankee Stadium, New York City, USA.
Songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist, and orchestra leader David Rose dies aged 80, of a heart attack in Burbank, California, USA. His most famous compositions were The Stripper, Holiday For Strings and Calypso Melody. Using the pseudonym Ray Llewellyn, he also wrote music for numerous television series, including It's A Great Life, The Tony Martin Show, Little House on the Prairie, Highway To Heaven, Bonanza, and Highway Patrol.Calypso singer and songwriter Lord Kitchener, best-remembered for his popular song Cricket, Lovely, Cricket, dies aged 77 in Champs Fleur, Trinidad, Caribbean.
The Notting Hill Carnival sets West London, England, UK, alight with the very best in West Indian music, dance, food and culture, drawing in a crowd of 750,000 people. The eight-day long Trinidad And Tobago Steelpan Jazz Festival begins. Artists appearing over the next eight days include Steel Pulse, Al Jarreau, David 'Fathead' Williams, David Rudder and others.
Calypso singer and songwriter The Mighty Terror dies of cancer in Trinidad, Caribbean, aged 86.Guitarist and songwriter Steven Springer, best-known as a member of the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, dies aged 60 of cancer, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Springer also played with Sir Lancelot Pinard and the band Sanctuary, and he founded the musical project Tropicooljazz.
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2012 |